Coachella Sues Urban Outfitters, Free People

Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters and their affiliate Free People are facing legal action from Coachella organizers Goldenvoice, for allegedly trying to capitalize on the festival's brand. According to the Los Angeles Times, the lawsuit centers on several items in Free People's catalog: the “Coachella Boot,” “Coachella Mini Dress,” “Coachella Pocket Tank” and “Coachella Valley Tunic.”

Promoter Goldenvoice claims that Urban Outfitters are allegedly “trading on the goodwill and fame” of the Coachella brand and are targeting the same customer demographic that the festival does. As well, they allege that Free People's products were designed to cause “confusion” and “deceive consumers,” and will dilute the Coachella brand “by blurring or by tarnishment” and amounts to unfair competition.

Coachella does license its brand wth clothing retailer H&M, who market a line of related jewelry and apparel, and with Pandora AS, who offer a line of Coachella-branded jewelry.

Coachella has asked the court for unspecified damages and for an order demanding that Urban Outfitters/Free People remove from sale any infringing items and engage in “corrective advertising” to disabuse customers of the notion that the products were licensed.

Representatives of Urban and Coachella could not be reached for comment.

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